Rolling mills vertical-roll change



NOV. 2, 1965 ALLISON 3,214,953

ROLLING MILLS VERTICAL-ROLL CHANGE Filed Jan. 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FREDERlCK 6. ALLISON E Q WW1;

H I 5 A'r-roRNg Nov. 2, 1965 F. G. ALLISON 3,214,953

ROLLING MILLS VERTICAL-ROLL CHANGE Filed Jan. 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FREDERICK GALLJSON H is ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 F. G. ALLISON 3,214,953

ROLLING MILLS VERTICAL-ROLL CHANGE Filed Jan. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 iNvEN'roR FREDERiCK G.ALLISON HIS ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 F. G. ALLISON 3,214,953

7 ROLLING MILLS VERTICAL-ROLL CHANGE Filed Jan. 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQR FREDERICK G. ALLISON BY H15 ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 F. 5. ALLISON ROLLING MILLS VERTICAL-ROLL CHANGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 8, 1963 \NvEN'roR FREDERlGK G. ALLISON fiat;

H is ATTORNEY.

United States Patent ROLLING MILLS VERTICAL-ROLL CHANGE Frederick Graham Allison, Sheffield, England, assignor to Davy and United Engineering Company Limited,

Shefiield, England, a British company Filed Jan. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 250,123 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 8, 1962, 735 62 4 Claims. (Cl. 72239) This invention relates to rolling mills, and relates in particular to the changing of the vertical rolls of a rolling mill stand, such as the stand of a beam mill of the universal type provided with horizontal and with vertical rolls.

An object of the invention is to permit the introduction and removal of vertical rolls to and from a rolling mill stand, and, in accordance with the invention, the assemblies of the vertical rolls are slidable on tracks to and from one side of the stand, where they may be removed from or introduced to the stand.

In a preferred form of the invention, a rolling mill comprises a pair of housings, each having a Window therein, horizontal tracks on the housings at each side of each window, and two vertical roll assemblies, each including a roll rotatable about a vertical axis, and each, when in operative position, supported by the tracks of a different one of the housings, the assemblies being slidable on the tracks to one side of the stand for removal from the stand.

The invention will be more readily understood by way of example from the following description of a universal beam mill, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a central vertical section through the stand, the horizontal rolls being omitted,

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are sections similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the vertical roll assemblies in successive stages of removal, and

FIGURE 5 is a similar section through a similar mill stand, and illustrates various modifications.

The beam mill of FIGURES 1 to 4 is generally of known kind and has two side housings and 11. Each housing has a pair of housing posts defining between them a window; one housing post of housing 10 is shown at 12 while one housing post of housing 11 is shown at 13. Between the pair of housing posts 12 of the side housing 10 there extends, in a horizontal plane, a wing in the form of a U-shaped yoke of which the base is indicated at 14. A similar yoke extends between the housing posts 13 of the side housing 11, and the base of this yoke is indicated at 15.

The two yokes are provided at opposite sides of the mill, in order to support and guide the two vertical-roll assemblies of the mill, these assemblies being indicated at 16 and 17 respectively. The assembly 16 comprises a roll chock 18 within which is mounted, for rotation about a vertical axis, and a vertical roll 20. The roll assembly 17 comprises a roll chock 19 within which is mounted, for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical roll 21.

The vertical-roll assembly 16 at the left hand or roll change side of the stand is capable of being moved in a horizontal plane, in the direction from left to right or vice versa of FIGURE 1, by means of a pair of screws of which one is indicated at 23, and by means of a pullback cylinder (not shown). The axes of the screws 23 and of the pull-back cylinder are parallel and horizontal and extend in the direction from left to right of FIGURE 1, through the base 14 of the left-hand-side yoke. The ram (not shown) of the pull-back cylinder is connected to the vertical-roll assembly 16 by means of a suitable detachable coupling (not shown), for example a clevis.

The roll chock 18 is arranged for horizontal sliding movement, from left to right or vice versa of FIGURE 1, along slideways 24 which extend along both sides of the left-hand yoke and, further, extend across the housing posts 12. Similarly, the right-hand vertical-roll assembly 17 is slidable along slideways 25 formed in the sides of the right-hand yoke and extending across the housing posts 13. The vertical-roll assembly 17 can be moved along the slideways 25 by means of a pair of screws (of which one is indicated at 26) together with a pull-back cylinder (not shown), the arrangement being similar to that for the left-hand vertical-roll assembly 16.

The space between the housing posts 12 and 13 at each end of the beam mill is bridged by a bridging piece 30, each piece 30 being provided with a slideway 31 which bridges the gap between the slideways 24 and 25, so permitting the right-hand vertical-roll assembly 17 to be slid from one side of the mill to the other.

The vertical-roll assembly 16 is shown in FIGURE 1 as withdrawn to a position within the left-hand yoke, further from the center of the mill than its outermost position during normal operation. When the roll assem bly 16 is in this position, to which it is retracted by means of the pull-back cylinder (not shown), latches 32 beneath the assembly 16 may be released to permit the roll assembly 16 to be lowered downwards, below the left-hand yoke, for example by means of a cable 33 the upper end of which is connected to a crane or other lifting device which is secured to the upper part of the housing of the beam mill, no independent crane or other lifting device being required.

FIGURE 2 shows the roll assembly 16 being lowered from the left-hand yoke on to a waiting bogie 34, brought up beneath that yoke. The cable 33 is then disconnected, and the roll assembly 16 is removed upon the bogie 34. After the cable 33 has been raised, the latches 32 are reclosed.

Thereafter, by reason of the provision of the bridging piece 30, the right-hand vertical-roll assembly 17 is slid across the beam mill to the position formerly occupied by the roll assembly 16. This may be done, as indicated in FIGURE 3, by placing a pulley 35 in position upon brackets 36 carried by the base 14 of the left-hand yoke, passing the cable 33 round the pulley and through the beam mill, securing the cable 33 to the roll assembly 17, and hauling up the cable 33 to cause the roll assembly 17 to move across the mill, from right to left in FIGURE 3. At this stage, the cable 33 is secured to the roll assembly 17 in any suitable manner, for example it may be secured to an eyebolt (not shown) mounted upon the roll chock 19.

When the roll assembly 17 has been moved to the position previously vacated by the roll assembly 16, and above the latches 32, the cable 33 is detached from the roll assembly 17 and is re-secured to the top of the roll assembly 17. The cable 33 takes the weight of the roll assembly 17, and the latches 32 are again released to permit the roll assembly 17 to be lowered onto a second bogie 37, as shown in FIGURE 4. After release of the cable 33, the roll assembly 17 is removed upon the bogie 37.

A new pair of vertical-roll assemblies can be introduced into the beam mill by reversing the sequence of operations just described. The only operation which is carried out somewhat differently is the hauling of the new right-hand roll assembly 17 from left to right (FIG- URE 3) across the mill. To carry out this step, the cable 33 is passed round the pulley 35 as in FIGURE 3, and is then passed over and around a second pulley (not shown) which can be inserted in brackets 38 secured to the base 15 of the right-hand yoke. The cable 33 is then passed again across the mill, and is secured to the right-hand end of the new roll assembly 17. By means of the cable 33, the new roll assembly 17 may thus be hauled from left to right across the mill, after which the cable 33 is detached.

If required, the bridging pieces 30 may be made withdrawable from the beam mill; for example, they may be moved upon slides, (not shown). Alternatively and preferably, the bridging pieces 30 may be fixed in position.

The arrangement for vertical roll change just described is not limited to a particular kind of beam mill. Where, however, the mill is of the kind as shown in the drawings, where the upper horizontal-roll assembly is slidingly mounted upon a spreader beam 39 having a slideway 40 along which the chocks of the upper horizontal-roll assembly slide, the crane or other lifting device referred to above may be in the form of a trolley (not shown) slidably mounted upon the spreader beam 39. This lifting device may be employed to lower the vertical-roll assemblies on to the bogies 34 and 37 and, if the spreader beam 39 is arranged to extend beyond the right-hand side of the mill in the same manner as it is commonly arranged to project as at 41 in FIGURES 1 to 4 beyond the left-hand side of the mill, then the lifting device can be slid along the spreader beam 39 to a position overhanging the right-hand vertical-roll assembly 17. Thus, with such an arrangement and when the horizontal rolls are removed, the lifting device may be employed to guide the right-hand roll assembly 17 across the mill, for extraction as described above. In some cases, where such an arrangement is used, the bridging pieces 30 referred to above, may be unnecessary.

The bogie 34, instead of being able to take only one of the assemblies 16, 17, may be provided upon its upper surface with rollers, and may have a length sufiicient to permit a first vertical-roll assembly 16 withdrawn from the mill to be moved over the rollers to provide space for the second vertical-roll assembly 17 to be placed upon the same bogie.

FIGURE shows a stand which is generally similar to that of FIGURES 1 to 4, but incorporates various modifications. Equivalent parts in FIGURES 1 and 5 are given the same reference numerals.

As before, the vertical roll assemblies 16, 17 of FIG- URE 5 are slidable on tracks 24, 31, 25 across the stand so that they can be brought in turn over the latches 32 for removal from the mill. In FIGURE 5, the pullback cylinder for assembly 16 is shown at 50, the piston 51 being connected to chock 18 by a detachable coupling 52. A similar piston 53 and cylinder 54 are provided on the yoke to slide the assembly 17 from its working position shown in the drawings to the removal position over latches 32; the piston 53 has a detachable coupling similar to coupling 52. The provision of the piston 53 and cylinder 54 obviates the need to thread the cable 33 (FIGURE 1) through the mill as above described.

The lifting and lowering mechanism of FIGURE 5 consists of a hydraulic cylinder 55 slidably mounted on a horizontal bracket 56 secured to housing 10. The cylinder 55 is accurately located horizontally by a screw 57 provided with lock nuts 58. The piston 60 of cylinder 55 is pivoted to a shackle 61 which carries chains 62 which can be secured to hooks 63 on the chocks 18, 19. The chains 62 incorporate turn buckles 64 which enable the chocks to be accurately levelled to prevent them fouling the yoke when the chocks are being lowered.

The bogie shown in FIGURE 5 for the removal of the roll assemblies differs from that of FIGURES 1 to 4, in that it incorporates a platform 65 for the reception of the horizontal rolls and a forward extension platform 66 which receives the two vertical roll assemblies 16, 17, one on top of the other as shown in phantom line. By the use of this bogie. all four rolls may be trans- 'ferred at the same time between the stand and the roll shop.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A rolling mill stand comprising a pair of housings each having a window therein, each housing having a wing-shaped member bridging its window for supporting a vertical roll assembly and the roll adjusting means thereof, which wing-shaped member revent removal of the vertical rolls from the mill in a horizontal direction, horizontal tracks on the housings at each side of the windows and extending on to the inner faces of the wingshaped members, said vertical roll assemblies when in operative positions being supported by the tracks of a different one of the housings, the assemblies being slidable on the tracks to and from one of the wing-shaped members for removal from and insertion in the housing, respectively.

2. A rolling mill stand comprising first and second housings each having a window therein, said housings have yoke members bridging their windows for supporting a first and second vertical roll assembly and the roll adjusting means thereof, which yoke members prevent the removal of the vertical rolls from the mill in a horizontal direction, horizontal tracks on the housings at each side of the windows and extending onto the inner faces of the yokes, said first and second vertical roll assemblies, each including a roll mounted in a bearing chock for rotation about a vertical axis, and each, when in operative position, supported by the tracks of a respective one of the housings, means for sliding each assembly on the tracks to and from a withdrawal position within the first of the yokes and clear of the first housing, and means for raising and lowering a roll assembly to and from the first yoke.

3. A rolling mill stand comprising a pair of housings each having a window therein, each housing having a wing-shaped member bridging its window for supporting a vertical roll assembly and the roll adjusting means thereof, which wing-shaped members prevent removal of the vertical rolls from the mill in a horizontal direction, horizontal tracks on the housings at each side of the windows and extending on to the inner faces of the wing-shaped members, said two vertical roll assemblies when in operative positions being supported by the tracks of a different one of the housings, the assemblie being slidable on the tracks to and from one of the wingshaped members for removal from and insertion in its housing respectively, a piston and cylinder arrangement for moving one roll assembly on the tracks from one housing to the other housing, and said piston and cylinder arrangement having a detachable coupling for securement to the one roll assembly.

4. A rolling mill stand comprising a pair of housings each having a window therein, each housing having a wing-shaped member bridging its window for supporting a vertical roll assembly and the roll adjusting means thereof, which wing-shaped members prevent removal of the vertical rolls from the mill in a horizontal direction, horizontal tracks on the housings at each side of the windows and extending on to the inner faces of the wing-shaped members, said two vertical roll assemblies when in operative positions being supported by the tracks of a diiferent one of the housings, the assemblies being slidable on the tracks to and from one of the wing-shaped members for removal from and insertion in its housing, respectively, the bridging parts of the wing-shaped members extending between the housings and forming a track joining the tracks of the two housings, whereby a roll J assembly of one housing may be guided to the other housing for removal from the stand, and a hoist secured to one of the housings for raising and lowering the roll assemblies to and from the housing.

408,843 8/89 Moxham 80-311 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,251,984 12/60 France.

234,837 5/ 11 Germany. 597,119 5/34 Germany.

1,006,377 4/ 57 Germany.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner. 

1. ROLLING MILL STAND COMPRISING A PAIR OF HOUSINGS EACH HAVING A WINDOW THEREIN, EACH HOUSING HAVING A WING-SHAPED MEMBER BRIDGING ITS WINDOW FOR SUPPORTING A VERTICAL ROLL ASSEMBLY AND THE ROLL ADJUSTING MEANS THEREOF, WHICH WING-SHAPED MEMBERS PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE VERTICAL ROLLS FROM THE MILL IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION, HORIZONTAL TRACKS ON THE HOUSINGS AT EACH SIDE OF THE WINDOWS AND EXTENDING ON TO THE INNER FACES OF THE WINGSHAPED MEMBERS, SAID VERTICAL ROLL ASSEMBLIES WHEN IN OPERATIVE POSITIONS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE TRACKS OF A DIFFERENT ONE OF THE HOUSING, THE ASSEMBLIES BEING SLIDABLE ON THE TRACKS TO AND FROM ONE OF THE WING-SHAPED MEMBERS FOR REMOVAL FROM AND INSERTION IN THE HOUSING, RESPECTIVELY. 